• Seeks liberalisation of AK-47 ownership licence
• Plateau killings: Death toll rises to 20
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused security forces in Plateau State of ‘criminal collusion and compromise’ with the forces of terror in the state.
According to HURIWA, the killing of Plateau people was a well-planned genocide by sponsors of terrorists whom the Federal Government failed to arrest, prosecute and sanction under the counter-terrorism law of Nigeria.
Consequently, it called for the liberalisation of licences for Nigerians to own AK-47s and other military-grade weapons like those wielded freely by terrorists as the fastest way to end the regime of terror in the country.
Meanwhile, the death toll of the Friday night mayhem at Bokkos, in which 13 persons were reportedly killed and many others injured, has risen to 20, as seven of the injured persons later gave up the ghost.
Coordinator of the rights group, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the Plateau governor “works very hard within his jurisdiction” to contain the killings, but expressed consternation that the Nigerian Army had yet to dismiss the GOC 3 Division in Plateau together with all the heads of Department of State Services (DSS) and police for allowing the constant slaughter of citizens by suspected Fulani terrorists.
He said: “Continuous failure of intelligence must have consequences unless Nigeria is a failed state. Otherwise, those responsible for security, who encourage insecurity by their gross inefficiency, should be dismissed from service to serve as deterrence.”
HURIWA recalled that Governor Caleb Mutfwang recently condemned the renewed deadly attacks that claimed many lives and property in the Kopnanle community in Mangu and Mandarshar villages of Bokkos Local Council of the state.
No fewer than 13 persons were reportedly slaughtered in the area on the night of Friday, April 12, 2024.
Confirming the incident, in a statement, yesterday, the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, said under the cover of darkness, more than 50 armed Fulani terrorists” descended on the villages of Mandung-Mushu and Kopnanle, targeting innocent, unarmed and peaceful residents as they slept.
Fuddang added that the assailants razed homes and a place of worship, mercilessly gunning down fleeing civilians. He alleged that the nearby soldiers failed to intervene effectively.
In a statement, yesterday, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Gyang Bere, noted that the governor warned perpetrators of the dastardly act to desist forthwith as the government is determined to fish them out to face justice.
On the Plateau killings, a native of Bokkos, Joseph Yando, who disclosed the latest fatality figure, added that they prayed that none of the injured persons should die again.
Mutfwang had earlier condemned the killing of innocent persons, vowing to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
However, yesterday, a vibrant group in Bokkos petitioned Mutfwang to remove what they called the murderous Special Task Force (STF) Sector Commander there.
The group alleged that his actions as the leader of the soldiers there had led to the gruesome massacre of 20 innocent local youths in the affected villages.
